This Music Is Brought to You By…..Part I

The conductor took his place at the podium. After the courteous applause subsided, he stepped up to the microphone and addressed the audience. He thanked us for coming and then proceeded to thank the sponsors, naming especially the generous ones whose large philanthropic gifts made this afternoon’s concert possible. From amateur school productions to professional orchestra performances, the money matters. The show will not go on without the generous support of those who have the will and the means to do so.

I did not watch today’s musical performance from a concert hall. Instead, I took my place in a church pew. As I looked to the choir, I could not help but notice the cross and the stained glass rendition of the Last Supper behind them. The church could surely accommodate a crowd with its ample floor seating and wrap-around balcony. I know for a fact that it is not so full for regular Sunday worship.

Question: When you think about two words—“church” and “mission”— what do you think of? Do you think of everything that happens outside of the church’s walls? Evangelism on the street? Food pantries? Supporting missionaries in other countries?

So often we think of mission as all that happens outside the four walls of a church This Sunday afternoon I was reminded of a mission that happens precisely because of those walls: the church as a home for the arts. The beauty of an architectural space lends itself to the creation of beauty; the space itself is its mission.

We know that without maintenance and support, these buildings will fade from glory; and even with care, over time, “tower and temple fall to dust.” Yet with care, with an appreciation for the space can come appreciation for what happens in that space. We can honor churches for the ways their very buildings celebrate the arts.

Today the mini-cathedral where I sat resounded with beautiful choral and orchestral music, not unlike other many other churches before that have housed similar sonic beauty. It is a mission of the church to value that which makes us pause, breathe deeper, and wonder at the gift of artistic expression. We marvel.  We rejoice. We cry. We sit in awe. We embrace mystery.

But what if there is no magnificent sanctuary? After all, didn’t Jesus have some harsh words to say about the temple?  Stay tuned for Part II.